Electric battery



H. F. FRENCH. ELECTRIC BATTERY. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 6. I920.

Rbissued Nov. 16, 1920.

to put the cell into action.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY F. FRENCH, or rnnmon'r, onto, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE assmnirnn'r's, '10 NATIONAL CARBONICOMPANY, me, A conro m'rroir or'nnw YORK.

'ELEC'IIIEtIC BATTERY.

Specification of Reissued Letters Patent. Reissued Nov, 16, 1920. Original No. 1,308,286, dated May 13, 1919, Serial No. 67,530, filed December 17, 1915. Application for reissue filed February a, 1920., Serial No. 356,706.

1 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY F. FRENCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fremont, in the county of Sandusky, and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric Batteries, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description;

My invention relates to electric cells in which the reacting elements are kept separated until the cells are to be put into action.

Electric cells of the type above referred to can be commercially successful only to the degree to which they possess simplicity of manipulation in being rendered active, promptness of electrical response to such treatment, and capability of producing service which compares favorably with that given by "the ordinary cell of'equal size and suitable for use for similar purposes. These advantages are bestattained in a cell which requires no diffusion of liquid within the cell preceding readiness for action, no addition of mix materials, and which can be readily made active without the use of any tools or other instruments.

It is the object of my invention to construct electric cells that fulfil these requirements, and the details will be given in the annexed specification, reference also being had to the drawings in which Figure 1 is a view of the cell in the storage condition. i

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cell in its working condition. Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view taken on the line AA of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the cell with certainparts removed to show its construction.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional'view 0f the upper end of the bibulous sheathing for the zinc electrode.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the zinc electrodes;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view-of one of the depolarizing blocks used in the cell.

- The invention in its broadest aspects consists in an arrangement whereby'the zinc electrode can be inserted in place by thggser ere are 1 er-' entways in which this can be done, but I prefer to construct the cell with a bibulous or'fporous sheath the mix which extends up through the seal so that the zinc electrode can be readily inserted therein whenever desired.

f The invention is not limited to any particular shape of cell, but by way of example one of rectangular cross section has been shown on the drawing.

Referring to the drawings, a plurality of carbon plates 1 are spaced apart and connected by a thin conducting strip 2 which may be soldered or otherwise fastened thereto. I prefer to form a slightly rabbeted portion 3 in the, upper corner of the carbon plates which may be electroplated to readily permit of soldering the strip 2 in position.

The bibulous sheath above referred to con- .sists of two strips 4 and 5 of pulpboard or other suitable material which may-be sewed or otherwise fastened together around three as on the outside, or impregnated with the same, so that the protruding ends will not soften or deplete the cell of electrolyte by capillary action. The coatings of flour and parafiin are shown in Fig. .5, the thickness of these being considerably exaggerated for purposes of illustration.

After the sheaths have been made as just described they are inserted midway between the carbon plates as shown partly in Fig. 4,

and the usual mix consisting of carbon and manganese dioxid moistened with electrolyte solution is tamped in posltion around the same. When the mix is "placed in the cell the dry lining and paste absorb electrolyte solution therefrom to assume a moist c0n dition in which they are conductive due to the presenceof electrolyte. The moistening 'of the layers of dry flour on the inner surface of the sheets causes the layers of flour to combine to provide an intermediate space filled with conducting paste.

' I'find it most convenient to compress the mix into blocks 6' of about half the height of the cell mix when fully tamped, and insert the lower tier as shown in Fig. 4, on top of an insulating layer 7 of cardboard,

' tamped in pitch or other Suitable material in the bot tom of the container 10. I also find itadvantageous to deliver a series of blows on eachfdepolarizing block-by means ofa mallet and a block of wood or othersuitable apparatus, which thoroughly compresses the mix in position.

When the lower layer of. mix has been gosition-theupper layer is added and treate in a similar way. The mix now being 'all tamped in the cell, the 'usual layer 8 of cardboard, sand, etc., may be added, and the seal 9 poured on top to substantiallythe level of the container 10 which may consistof suitable waterproof paper, fabric, sheet metal, or any other desired material. I i

The Zinc electrodes consist of strips 11 and 12' and may have'any form of binding postdesired, but in Fig. 6. I have shown the zincs 1:1 and 12 with bent-over lugs 13 and let respectively. The lug 14 carries a binding screw clamped in position a nut 15 and a milled nut 16 threaded thereon in position to clamp the conducting wire that will be attached thereto when the cell is put into use. For convenience the zinc 11 :Ihas a-notch 17 in-the 111g 13 so that it can be readily joined to the zinc 12 and placedin position by the user.

The zines while being stored forsale or for use, can-be kept in any way,'but it is preferableto secure them to the outside of the cell so that they will'not be-lost.

the lug 14 projecting inward. Zinc 11 can 'the'n be placed outside of the zinc 12 with the slot 17 extending around the "binding post :18, as. shown" in Fig. 1. The binding nut can .thenbe screwed down to clamp .the -zin'cfin1 position," and a cord 19 tied around-the cell to prevent sidewise displacement of both zincs. Inrthis condition the .cell will leave the factory and-be inactive until'the-"zincs are inserted into position.

When the cell is to bep'utjnto action the .user'will remove them from their attached position on the outside of the cell and will insert them between sheets .4 and 5 of the bibulous, sheath which the seal; A zincplate ould-be partially inserted in'each of-the sheaths protruding from the. seal, andthe two secured together by loosenin'gthenut .15 and springing the lug 17 beneath it where it will be rigid'l'y.

clamped in position by retighteningthe nut onthe" screw. The two. zines will then be pushed as far as' they will go into the sheaths and the cell is ready for action.

In some cases I will keep-the sheets 4.

and 5 of the bibulous sheath separated by anon-active strip 4', such as a strip of par'-' a'ifin paper. provide a cavity in the sheathto render' the insertion of the v convenient way to do this is to place zinc 12 against the outside of the cell and with plrojects ,up above 7 s zincs more convenient when the' strip is pulled out. I A

While I have shown and described a dry cell having three carbon electrodes and two zinc electrodes, it of course will be apparent that the inventioncould be used with only one carbon and one zinc, or with any number of such electrodes.

In the improved form o f cell just.de-

scribed, the electrolyte, depolarizer and other mix materials are thoroughly mixed and tamped in place in the cell at the factory, so that after the insertion of the zincs the cell .conditions are substantially identical With those of ordinary cells found on the market. The service life, voltage and ourrentof the improved form of cell will there,- fore be substantially the same as, in other cells,'.and these characteristics can be accurately controlledby the process 0t manufacture as they'are not dependent upon 'the user.

Having described claim is I 1. In electric batteries, a container, a seal in the upper end thereof anda flat electrode my invention, what I sheath of bibulous material, open at one end and'projecting through the .seal Whereby the electrode'ican be inserted'in thesheath I'when the battery is to" be made active.

2.- In electric batteries, an electrode, a sheath therefor consistin of two strips of bibulous material secureg together at three of their edges, and a layer of flour paste on the inside-surfaces of both'of saidfsheets.

3. In electric batteries, an electrodesheath consisting .of-two strips oi pulpboard secured together at their sides, a coating of sealing material on the insidesurfaces near one of the ends of the sheath, and a coating of flour on the remaining part of said inside surfaces. I

4. In electricbatteries, an electrode sheath consisting of'two sheets of pulpboard sewed together on three of their edges, a. coating of sealing material on' the inner and exte-' rior surfacesof each sheet near one end thereof, and a coating of flour on the remaim' ingportion of the inside surfaces of the sheets.

5. In electric batteries, .a container, an electrolyte mixture therein, a seal above said mixture, a bibulous sheath in said mix one end extending to. the exterior of the cell. 120

through said seal, and an electrode adapted to be inserted in' said'sheath through the exterior end. I

6. In electric batteries, a container, ,a Positive electrode in the container, a'bibulou's sheath spaced from said positive elec trode, an electrolyte and depolarizing mix packed between the sheath and said positive electrode, a seal on'to of said mix, one end of said "sheath'ex'tendmgto the exterior-"of the through said seal, and a' negative 39 electrode adapted to be inserted therein throu h the exterior end. 7 7. 11 electric batteries, a contamer, a positive electrode therein, a bibnlous sheathspaced from said positive electrode, a depolarizing mix packed between the sheath and the positive electrode, a seal on top of the mix, said sheath extending above theseal, and a negative electrode adapted to be inserted in said sheath.

i 8. In electric batteries, a container, a p111- rality of carbon electrodes spaced apart and connected together by a conducting strip, an

- electrode sheath placed centrally in each electrode sheath placed centrally in each space between said electrodes, a depolarizing mix packed in the spaces between said sheaths and said carbon electrodes, a binding post connected to said conducting strip and a zinc electrode in' each of said sheaths. I 9. In electric batteries, a container, a plurality of carbon electrodes spaced apart and connected together by a' conducting strip, an

space between said electrodes, a depolarizing mix packed in the spaces between said sheaths and said carbon electrodes, a binding post connected to said conducting strip, a zinc electrode in each of said sheaths, overlapping projections on said zinc electrodes, and a binding post secured to said projection.

10. In electric batteries, a container, a seal in the upper end thereof, and an electrode sheath of bibulous material open at one edge andprojecting through the seal, said sheath havmg a waterproof coating at the upper establish intimate contact with the zinc. said means being located inproximity to the de polarizer and said space having an opening adapted to permit the. zinc electrode to be forcibly inserted therein to render the cell active.

13. In dry cellsof the type described, a; positive electrode, a depolarizing mix adjacent thereto, .a-negative electrode of sheet I zinc adapted to be placed in proximity to the depolarizing mix, and a pasty material adapted to establish intimate contact with the sheet zinc, said p'asty material being 10- cated adjacent the depolarizing mix, and said cell having an opening adapted to permit the zinc electrode to be forcibly'inserted in the pasty material to render the cell active.

14. In dry cells of the type described, a

positive electrode, a depolarizing mix adjacent thereto, a negative electrode of sheet zinc adapted to be placed in proximity to the depolarizing mix, a layer of'bibulous material adjacent the mix, and pasty" material located adjacent the bibulous material and adapted, to establish intimate contact with the sheet zinc, said zinc elect'rode being adapted to be forcibly inserted in the paste adjacent; thebibulous material to render the cell active.

15. In dry cells of the type described, a

positive electrode, a depolarizing mix adjacent thereto, a' negative electrode of sheet zinc adapted to be placed in proximity to the depolarizing mix,'and an envelop of bibulous material containing paste, said envelop beinglocated adjacent the depolarizing mix and having an opening "adapted to permit the zinc electrodeto be forcibly inserted therein to render the cell active.

16. In dry'cells of the type described, a

positive electrode, a depolarizing mix adjacent thereto, a negative electrode of sheet zinc adapted to be placed in proximity to the depolarizing mix, paste adapted to estabmeans for supporting the paste in proximity to the depolarizing mix, said cell having an opening at one end adapted to permit the zinc electrode to be forcibly inserted therein to render the cell active. 17. In'dry cells of the type described, an

inactive element comprising-a casing, a depolarizing mix, a carbon electrode and a separating medium within the casing, said carbon electrode and separating medium-being located on opposite surfaces of the delish intimate contact with the sheet zinc, and

polarizer, and said casing having an'open-- ing adapted to permit a zinc electrode to beinserted therein adjacent the separating medium-and out of contact with the depolarizing mix.

18. In dry cells of the type described, an

inactive element comprising a casing, a'depolarizing 1111K, a carbon electrode and a filling of paste within the casing, said carbon electrode and paste being located on I opposite surfaces of the depolarizer, and

said casing having an opening adapted to. permit a zinc electrode to be inserted there n.

adjacent the paste and out of'contact with t e depolarizing mix.

In testimony whereof,Iaflixm si ature. HARRY F; F E CH. 

